Refrigerating apparatus



June 4, l929 F. J. HEIDEMAN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed sept. 21, 19252 Sheets-Sheet l IN VENTOR.

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Q .LII IIITLR A TTORNEY June 4, 1929.4

A F. J. HEIDEMAN 1.715.361

REFR I GERAT I NG APPARATUS Filed Sept. 2l, 1925 2 Sheets--Shee'kl 2 fFf A /1 TTORNEY Patented .lune 4, 1929.

UNITED STATES FRED .1. Hammam, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, AssrGNon. -orNINE'I'Y ran cmu' 'ro 'moms c. wnrrnnnan, on, am Rouen, IIIcHIeAN.

murnmnnarme Arranamus,

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularlyto a sensitizer designed to afford a thermal control more re-l sponsiveto the changes in `temperature and consequently effecting a greatereiiciency m the operation of the refrigerating apparatus.

simplify, render more eiicient, and improve generally devices of thischaracter and the above as well as otherl objects, advantages, and noveldetails of construction, will be made more apparent as this descriptionpro'- ceeds, especially when considered in connection with theaccompanyingdrawings wherein one illustrative embodiment of theinvention .is shown and wherein f Fig. 1' is a fragmentary sectionalview through a refrigerating apparatus with my invention attachedthereto,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the device detached,

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 ofFig. 2. e 1

Referring now particularly to the drawings wherein like referencecharacters indicate like parts, it will be noted that there isillustrated the .wall 10 of the refrigerator or like compartment intowhich a brine or other non-freezing Huid tank 11'is disposed. The

4ir'tank 11 maybe of any suitable design and is shown as provided withthe customary expansion coil 12.v the outlet end of which is 4connectedto a fitting 13 arranged at the top of tank 11. -The refrigerating meansows into the inlet en d (not shown) of expansion coil 12, through thiscoil and out through the end thereof which is connected to fitting 13.

The sensitizer forming the subject matter of this inventionconsists of acasing indi* The invention has also among its objects to cated generallyb the reference character 14 55 provided with a ase iiange 15 by mea'nsof which connection is made with the portion 16 of the fitting fortheend of tube 12. The casingA or shell 14 of the sensitizer is formedwith a longitudinal ibore 17 which connects with a nipple 18 threadedtherein as at 19. A tube 20 connected to the nipple 18 extends throughthe refrigerator wall and on to the intake port of the compressor. Bore17 con'- nects with a branch bore or passageway 21, which inturnconnects with the fitting 13 at the end of expansion tube 12. Withthe con- Y struction thus far described it will be apparent that therefrigerating medium -ilowing out through the end of expansion coil 12has ap uninterrupted ow through the sensitizer to the conduit or tube 2Othrough which it is conducted back to the compressor.

The casing .14 of the sensitizer is formed preferably parallel with andadjacent to the bore 17, with a chamber 22 closed at one end andcommunicating 'at the other with a nipple 23 threaded in the casing asat 24 and to which nipple a relatively small gauge tube 25 is connected.This tube preferably runs parallel 80. with and ad'acent to tube 20 Vandalso passes outwardly t rough the wall of the refrigerator. This tube isadapted t'o be connected to a thermostat or thermal-controlled switchfor controlling the compressor motor of the apparatus. While any desiredtype of thermostat involving a sylphon may be employed I haveconventionally illustrated that form of thermostat more fully describedand illustrated in my copending application, Serial Number 57,7 92,filed Sept. 21, 1925. This thermostat consists essentially of a sylphon26 connected to tube 25 by means of a nipplev 27, this sylphoncontrolling an electric switch 28 through the medium of aswitch-operating 95 arm 29and a plunger 30 controlled directly by thesylphon. f

The'tubes 20 and 25 which are arranged in parallel proximity to oneanother as they pass through the refrigerator wall are preferablyinsulated therefrom by a rubber gland or washer 31 (see particularlyFig. 1).

Communication is provided between bore 17 and chamber 22 by means of arestricted orifice 32 formed in the wall 33 extending between the two.This orifice 32 is adapted to be controlled by a needle valve member 34threaded into aninteriorly threaded proiec tion 35 on casing 14. Thisprojection is also exteriorly threaded for the reception of a packingnut 36.

In charging the thermo-control circuit the needle valve 34 is backed outsufficiently to open orifice 32 whereupon the vcompressor or pump isoperated to exhaust all the air or other fluids from the thermo-controlcircuit. By suitable manipulation of the lvalve of the refrigeratingapparatus this maybe accomplished while the refrigerant is maintainedaccumulated in the condenser. After a com,- plete exhaustion of the airfrom thethermocontrol circuit refrigerant from the refrigerant circuitis admitted into the thermo-control circuit by `suitably manipulatingthe valves to permit the refrigerant to flow into the refrigerantcircuit. After the thermocontrol circuit is fully charged to the desiredpressure the orifice 32 which provides for communication between thechamber 22 and the bore 17 of the refrigerant circuit, is closed bymeans of the needle valve 34 whereupon the refrigerant conducted to thethermo-control circuit is trapped therein. This method of charging thethermo-control circuit is highly efficient and practical as it permitsthe charging of this thermo-control circuit from the refrigerant alreadycontained in the system and shipped with the apparatus and permits thethermo-control'circuit to be fully charged after the entire apparatushas been set up and ready for operation. It eliminates the necessity ofhaving available for use a separate supply of refrigerant or otherthermo-responsive fluid and also enables a relatively unskilledattendant to properly condition the apparatus for use. Furthermore, if,after continued use the amount ofy thermo-responsive Huid in thethermo-control clrcuit becomes lnsuiiiclent either because of leakage orother causes it may be recharged,from the refrigerant circuit withoutmuch interruption to the operation of the refrigerating apparatus. f

Great importance is attached to the strategio disposition of thesensitizer which, as will be noted, is arranged on the top of the brinetank 11' at the point where the highest temperature throughout therefrigerator is encountered. In other words` the sensitizer is placed ontop of the brine tank at the outlet end of the expansion coil and as aconsequence, is subjected to greater'changes in temperature and isfurthermore disposed at a point where it will be the first to beaffected by a rise in temperature and the last to be affected by a fallin temperature. Consequently. the temperature of the refrigrator may beefficiently controlled from this pointand the control apparatus mademore responsive.

The `refrigerating medium or thermo-responsive fluid trapped in theclosed portion or chamber 22 of the sensitizer is affected. byinduction, by the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through bore 17of the sensi- -tizer and on throlgh tube 20 to the compressor. It isalso a ected by the temperature of the air surrounding the sensitizercasing as well as b the temperature of the adjacent wall of the rinetank to which it is attached in heat transmitting contact. When thetemperature of the refrigerant 4in bore 17 and consequently thesurrounding air and brine tank wall rises to such an extent as to causean expansion of the fluid contained in chamber 22, a displacement of thecolumn of fluid in tube 25 will occur, which in turn will expand thesylphon and operate the thermalcontrolled switch in the customarymanner. When, however, the tempertaure of the refrigerant invbore 17 andof the surrounding air and adjacent brine tank wall has dropped thefluid in chamber 22 will contract, permitting a movement of the fiuid intube 25 in a direction away from the syphon whereupon the sylphon willcollapse and the electric switch controlled thereby will be opened.

If desirable, the sensitizer may be adjusted, by backing out needlevalve 34, and thus opening orifice 32, so as to function in response tothe pressure in the expansion coil conduit. In this instance chamber 22is in directcommunication with the expansion coil and tube 20 and bysuitably adjusting the spring opposing the expanding movement of thesylphon the sensitizer Will operate to affect the expansion andcontraction of the sylphon substantially in the same manner as abovepointed out.l` The sylphon will then be operated in dependence upon thechanges in pressure in the expansion coil, which variances in pressureare dependent uponV the temperature of the refrigerating medium.

As mentioned hereinbefore, the point at which the sensitizer is mounted,that is upon the top of the brine tank 11. is extremely advantageousbecause of the effect upon the sensitizer of the higher temperature atthis point in the refrigerator. Furthermore, the association with therefrigerating apparatus of a sensitizer constructed in accordance withthis invention eliminates the necessity of arranging the thermostatwithin the refrigerator upon the brine tank or immediately adjacentthereto, and consequently eliminates the necesslty of disposing theelectric conduits runmng from the switch on the thermostat to thecompressor motor, through the. wall of the, refrigerator and to theinterior thereof. With the present construction the thermostat isdisposed outside the refrigerator and electric wires need not be`assocated with the refrigerator in any manner whatsoever.

While the tank 11 has been repeatedly referred to as a brine tank andwill be so referred to in the claims. it should beunderstood that in theplace of brine various other types of non-freezing fiuid may lbeemployed or a boiler or cooling coil may be used without a wissel,

tank containing a nonfreezing duid and I therefore do not wish to belimited. to the use of brine in the tank lll orto a tank.

While the invention has been described and illustrated somewhat indetail, it will be readily apparent to those shilied in this particu!=lar art that various changes and modifications may he resorted toWithout departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and tothis end reservation is made to makeH such changes as may come Withinthe purview of the accompanying claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

L In a refrigerating apparatus, the conn bination with a brine tank andan expansion coil, of a sensitizer mounted on the top .of said tank andarranged adjacent the discharge end of the expansion coil, a, pressureresponsive device connected to said sensitizer, and ad` justable meanswithin the sensitizer adjustable to selectively cause the pressurerespons sivedevice to be actuated either directly by the pressure in theexpansion coil or indirect ly by' the temperature thereof.

2., In a refrigerating apparatus, anexpansion coil, a sensitizeradjacent the expansion coil, a pressure responsive device controlled bythe sensitizer', and means for'causing the said sensitizer and pressureresponsive device to be selectively operable either indirectly by thetempera-ture or directly by the pressure Ain the expansion coil.

3. In a refrigerating:apparatus, an expansion coil, a sensitizeradjacent the expansion coil, a pressure responsive device controlled bythev sensitizer, and a valve in the sensitizer, the said valve beingmovable to two extreme positions in one of which the sensitizer and thee pressure res onsive device connected thereto are contro led by the.temperature of the7 expansion coil and in the other of Y'which thesensitizer and the pressure responsive device connected theretoare'controlled by the pressure in the expansion coil. h

4. In a refrigerating apparatus, a sensitizer comprising a casing havinga bore in constant communication, with the outlet of the expanf sioncoil of the apparatus, said casing being formed with a. chamber'connected to a pres-A sure-responsive device and containing 'athermo-responsive means, and means to selectively cause thepressure-responsive device to he actuated either directly by thepressure in the expansion coil or indirectly by the temperature thereof.

` 5 In a refrigerating apparatus, a compressor, an expansion coil, asensitizer'comprising a casing formed with a parallelly arranged boreand chamber, said bore being'connected to the outlet end of theexpansion coil'and adapted for connection to the intake port of thecompressor, said chamber being connected to a pressure-responsive devicefor control- 'ling the compressor motor switch and containing athermo-responsive fluid, and means to selectively cause thepressure-responsive device to be actuated either directly by thepressure in the expansion coil or indirectly by the temperature thereof.

6. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination with an expansion coil,of a sensitizer associated therewith, a pressure-responsive devicespaced from the said sensitizer but connected thereto, thermo-responsivemeans or'controlling the fluid pressure within the pressure-responsivedevice, and means to selectively cause the pressure-responsive device tobe actuated either directly by the pressure in the expansion coilio'rindirectly by the temperature thereof.

7. In Aa refrigerating apparatus, an expansiorrcoil, apressure-'responsive device, a

scnsitizer comprising a casing provided with a passage connected to andpermitting the discharge therethrough of the refrigerating medium fromthe coil and providedalso with .a chamber connected tothepressure-responsive device, and means toselectively cause thepressure-responsive device to be actuated either directly by thepressure in the expansion"\coil or indirectly by the temperaturethereof.u

8. In a refrigerating apparatus, the com? bination with an expansioncoil, of a'sensitizer connected to the expansion coil, a pressure, resonsive device connected to said sensitlzer,

FRED J. HEIDEMAN.

